Image cataloger based on gridded color histogram analysis

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for cataloging images based on a gridded color histogram analysis. The computer accesses an image gallery specified by a user, wherein the image gallery is at least one of an image gallery stored on a user computing device, an image gallery stored on a user account at a third-party image storage, or an image gallery searched on the web. The computer receives a request to search the image gallery specified by the user. The computer performs a search of the image gallery, wherein the search is using a color based histogram algorithm based on a user input. The computer transmits a cataloged and sorted image gallery to the user computing device to be displayed.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates generally to the field of catalogingimages, and more particularly to cataloging images based on a griddedcolor histogram analysis.

Cataloging, sorting, and laying out images are key features forsupporting image processing operations. There are many ways to classifyimages based on content, event, keyword, color, and location. A new areais a reverse image search using color histograms that focus on theentire image. However, people need to be able to sort images accordingto certain colors that appear in a designated portion of the image.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Additional aspects and/or advantages will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows and, in part, will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, computer programproduct, and system for cataloging images based on a gridded colorhistogram analysis. The computer accesses an image gallery specified bya user, wherein the image gallery is at least one of an image gallerystored on a user computing device, an image gallery stored on a useraccount at a third-party image storage, or an image gallery searched onthe web. The computer receives a request to search the image galleryspecified by the user. The computer performs a search of the imagegallery, wherein the search is using a color based histogram algorithmbased on a user input. The computer transmits a cataloged and sortedimage gallery to the user computing device to be displayed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certainexemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating the system forcataloging images based on a gridded color histogram analysis, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart depicting operational steps to catalog imagesbased on the gridded color histogram analysis within the environment ofFIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting operational steps of the user searchingan image gallery and receiving a cataloged result within the environmentof FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart depicting operation steps for a method of thecolor histogram algorithm within the environment of FIG. 1, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart depicting operation steps for another method ofthe color histogram algorithm within the environment of FIG. 1, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the color histogram based image catalogservice, where the present invention can be implemented.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of components of a mobile device of the systemfor cataloging images based on a gridded color histogram analysis ofFIG. 1, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of components of a computing device of thesystem for cataloging images based on a gridded color histogram analysisof FIG. 1, in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 9 depicts a cloud computing environment according to an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 10 depicts abstraction model layers according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings isprovided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplaryembodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and theirequivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in thatunderstanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize thatvarious changes and modifications of the embodiments described hereincan be made without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions andconstructions may be omitted for clarity and conciseness.

The terms and words used in the following description and claims are notlimited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used to enablea clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, itshould be apparent to those skilled in the art that the followingdescription of exemplary embodiments of the present invention isprovided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose oflimiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and theirequivalents.

It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the”include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.Thus, for example, reference to “a component surface” includes referenceto one or more of such surfaces unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise.

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentinvention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elementsthroughout.

Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to a system forcataloging images based on a gridded color histogram analysis. Thesystem for cataloging images based on a gridded color histogram analysiscan be a standalone application for searching an image gallery stored ona user computing device and/or it can be a separate application that auser can assess an image gallery stored on a user account at a thirdparty image storage, or an image gallery searched on the web. The usercreates a profile where personal characteristics are uploaded andprevious searches are saved. The user is able to establish samplingrules or is able to choose from predetermined sampling rules. The usercan customize the frame size for the cataloging image selection. Theuser can perform a search of an image gallery by either of the followingmethods. The user can select a region on a gridded template and thenselect a color combination from a color selection panel which is to besearched in the selected region for all of the images in the gallery.The user to select certain colors that appear only in a designatedportion or the region (e.g. selected frame) of an image to search imagesand sorting images accordingly. The user can also select a specificcolor from a sample image and the image gallery can be searched for allimages that contain that specific color in the same region as the sampleimage. A color based histogram algorithm is performed on the imagegallery based on the method of the search. Gridded color histograminformation is extracted from each of the images in the gallery. Thepixels in the selected region with the specific color are averaged. Theimages in the gallery or on the cloud are analyzed for a similarity ofcolor in the specified region. A color histogram catalog sorted bysimilarity is created as a result of the algorithm. The catalog istransmitted to the user.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram illustrating a system forcataloging images based on a gridded color histogram analysis 100, inaccordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

The system for cataloging images based on a gridded color histogramanalysis 100 includes a user computing device 120 and a server 130. Theuser computing device 120 and the server 130 are able to communicatewith each other, via a network 110.

The network 110 can be, for example, a local area network (LAN), a widearea network (WAN) such as the Internet, or a combination of the two,and can include wired, wireless, or fiber optic connections. In general,the network 110 can be any combination of connections and protocols thatwill support communications between the user computing device 120 andthe server 130, in accordance with one or more embodiments of theinvention.

The user computing device 120 may be any type of computing device thatis capable of connecting to the network 110, for example, a laptopcomputer, tablet computer, netbook computer, personal computer (PC), adesktop computer, a smart phone, or any programmable electronic devicesupporting the functionality required by one or more embodiments of theinvention. The user computing device 120 may include internal andexternal hardware components, as described in further detail below withrespect to FIG. 7 or FIG. 8. In other embodiments, the user computingdevice 120 may operate in a cloud computing environment, as described infurther detail below with respect to FIG. 9 and FIG. 10.

The user computing device 120 represents a computing device thatincludes a user interface, for example, a graphical user interface 122.The graphical user interface 122 can be any type of application thatcontains an interface to perform a gridded color histogram image searchvia a color histogram image module 160 and receive and display thecataloged results from a color histogram based image catalog managermodule 140.

The user computing device 120 includes an image gallery 124 that couldbe the user's personal image gallery. For simplicity, the image gallery124 is shown as a part of the user computing device 120. However, it canbe a separate application hosted on the server 130 that the user canaccess to search online galleries, or search images on the cloud or theinternet.

The server 130 includes a communication module 132, the color histogrambased image catalog manager module 140, and the color histogram imagemodule 160. For simplicity, the color histogram image module 160 and thecolor histogram based image catalog manager module 140 are shown as apart of the server 130. However, the color histogram image module 160and/or the color histogram based image catalog manager module 140 can bea standalone application on the user computing device 120. The server130 is able to communicate with the user computing device 120, via thenetwork 110. The server 130 may include internal and external hardwarecomponents, as depicted and described in further detail below withreference to FIG. 8. In other embodiments, the server 130 may includeinternal and external hardware components, as depicted and described infurther detail below with respect to FIG. 9, and operate in a cloudcomputing environment, as depicted in FIG. 10.

The communication module 132 is capable of receiving a gridded colorhistogram image search from the color histogram image module 160 andtransmitting the cataloged results from a color histogram based imagecatalog manager module 140 to the user computing device 120, via thenetwork 110.

The color histogram based image catalog manager module 140 incudes auser profile database 142, a service profile database 144, a samplingrule collector module 146, a user categorizer module 148, a colorhistogram algorithm module 150, a color histogram catalog module 152,and a color histogram catalog service daemon 154.

The user profile database 142 and the service profile database 144 aredata stores that store previously obtained data. The user profiledatabase 142 stores color histogram sampling rules chosen or created bythe user from the sampling rule collector module 146. The user profiledatabase 142 also stores cataloged image galleries from the colorhistogram catalog module 152. The user specific data stored in the userprofile database 142 provides for transparent searches that are gearedtoward the specific user. The user profile database 142 transmits theuser's profile to the user categorizer module 148. The service profiledatabase 144 stores color histogram sampling rules that are predefinedby the service provider from the sampling rule collector module 146.

The sampling rule collector module 146 collects all of the samplingrules from the user's and the service providers for customization andoptimization of the searches. For example, a sampling rule could be tofocus on certain objects, ignore certain objects, filter out a certaincolor, assign a different weight to certain red, green, or blue color,and/or any customized rule. The sampling rule collector module 146retrieves sampling rules made by the user from the color histogramcatalog service daemon 154 and then transmits them to the user profiledatabase 142 to be stored. The sampling rule collector module 146obtains the predetermined sampling rules from the service providers andthen transmits them to the service profile database 144.

The user categorizer module 148 categorizes user groups according totheir user personal characteristics stored in the user profile database142. The user categorizer module 148 categorizes users into user groupsbased on similar sampling rules and similar searches of the imagegallery 124. This allows for optimization of searches for returningusers. The user categorizer module 148 retrieves user information fromthe user profile database 142 to perform more personal searches, whichremember the user's past search inputs and sampling rules. The usercategorizer module 148 transmits the user's profile to a catalog controlpanel 162 so it remembers the user's information.

The color histogram algorithm module 150 provides operations to digitizethe distribution of colors pixels in images based on the given samplingrules and frame selector. The color histogram algorithm module 150retrieves the user chosen sampling rules from the sampling rulecollector module 146 and retrieves the frame selection from the colorhistogram catalog service daemon 154. The color histogram algorithmmodule 150 is granted access to the image gallery 124. The colorhistogram algorithm module 150 calculates and extracts gridded colorhistogram information from the image of the image gallery 124. The colorhistogram algorithm module 150 performs its calculations based on whichmethod the user chooses to search the image gallery 124. The user canselect a region on a gridded template and then select a colorcombination from a color selection panel which is to be searched in theselected region for all of the images in the image gallery 124. The userto select certain colors that appear only in a designated portion or aregion (e.g. selected frame) of an image to search images and sortingimages accordingly. The user can also select a specific color from asample image and the image gallery 124 can be searched for all imagesthat contain that specific color in the same region as the sample image.The color histogram algorithm module 150 retrieves the method that theuser took for the search from the color histogram catalog service daemon154. The color histogram algorithm module 150 averages the pixels in thespecified region with the specified color based on the user's search.The color histogram algorithm module 150 then analyzes the images in theimage gallery 124 being searched for similarities in color in thespecified region. The color histogram algorithm module 150 sorts theimages based on those with the most similarities. The color histogramalgorithm module 150 transmits the sorted similar images to the colorhistogram catalog module 152 to be cataloged.

The color histogram catalog module 152 retrieves the similar images fromthe color histogram algorithm module 150 to catalog them based on theirsimilarities. The color histogram catalog module 152 transmits thecatalog to an image gallery layout module 168 to be displayed on theuser computing device 120, via the graphical user interface 122. Thecolor histogram catalog module 152 also transmits the cataloged imagegallery to the user profile database 142 to be stored for futuresearches.

The color histogram catalog service daemon 154 receives the user searchfrom an image selector module 166. The color histogram catalog servicedaemon 154 is granted access to the image gallery 124 being searched.The color histogram catalog service daemon 154 receives the samplingrules from the catalog control panel 162. The color histogram catalogservice daemon 154 receives the user's frame selection from a frameselector module 164. The color histogram catalog service daemon 154transmits the sample rules from the catalog control panel 162 to thesampling rule collector module 146. The color histogram catalog servicedaemon 154 transmits the frame selection from the frame selector module164 and the user search and the image gallery 124 from the imageselector module 166 to the color histogram algorithm module 150.

The color histogram image module 160 includes the catalog control panel162, the frame selector module 164, the image selector module 166, andthe image gallery layout module 168.

The catalog control panel 162 is where the user can select predeterminedsampling rules from the service providers or can write their ownsampling rules. The catalog control panel 162 transmits the user'ssampling rules and the user's profile to the color histogram catalogservice daemon 154. The catalog control panel 162 receives the user'spersonal characteristics and profile from the user categorizer module148 so it remembers the user's information.

The frame selector module 164 allows the user to select the frame sizeto search within the image gallery 124. The frame selector module 164allows the user to select the grid size, for example 4×4, 8×8, or unevenframes. This allows for easy region selection in the image selectormodule 166. The frame selector module 164 transmits the user's frameselection to the color histogram catalog service daemon 154 and theimage selector module 166.

The image selector module 166 allows the user to search the imagegallery 124 based on two different methods. The user can select a regionon a gridded template and then select a color combination from a colorselection panel which is to be searched in the selected region for allof the images in the image gallery 124. The user can also select aspecific color from a sample image and the image gallery 124 can besearched for all images that contain that specific color in the sameregion as the sample image. The sample image is from the image gallery124, for example the sample image can be from the user's personal imagegallery, from a search on the World Wide Web, or an image gallery storedon a user account at a third-party image storage. The image selectormodule 166 retrieves the user's frame selection form the frame selectormodule 164 for accessibility when selecting the specific region on thetemplate or sample image. The image selector module 166 transmits theuser's search to the color histogram catalog service daemon 154.

The image gallery layout module 168 receives the cataloged image gallerybased on the similarities to the user's search from the color histogramcatalog module 152. The most similar images are presented first in thecataloged image gallery. The graphical user interface 122 displays thecataloged images from the image gallery layout module 168 for the user.

FIG. 2 represents the color histogram based image catalog manager module140 cataloging images based on the user's search.

FIG. 2 illustrates the color histogram catalog service daemon 154receiving the user's search and the color histogram algorithm module 150searching for similar images to be cataloged. The color histogramcatalog service daemon 154 is accessing the image gallery 124 (S200).The color histogram catalog service daemon 154 receives the user'sprofile characteristics from the catalog control panel 162 (S202). Thecolor histogram catalog service daemon 154 receives the user's samplingrules from the catalog control panel 162 (S204). The color histogramcatalog service daemon 154 receives the user's search input from theimage selector module 166 (S206). The color histogram algorithm module150 performs the color based histogram algorithm on the user's searchand the image gallery 124 from the color histogram catalog servicedaemon 154 (S208). The color histogram catalog module 152 creates acolor histogram catalog based on the results of the color histogramalgorithm module 150 (S210). The color histogram catalog from the colorhistogram algorithm module 150 is transmitted to the image gallerylayout module 168 (S212).

FIG. 3 represents the user searching the image gallery 124 and receivinga cataloged gallery on the image gallery layout module 168.

FIG. 3 illustrates the user performing an image search on the colorhistogram image module 160 and receiving the cataloged result on theimage gallery layout module 168. The catalog control panel 162 receivesperson characteristics and profile preferences from the user categorizermodule 148 (S300). The user creates sampling rules or choose frompredetermined sampling rules in the catalog control panel 162 (S302).The user selects a frame size for searching images in the frame selectormodule 164 (S304). The user selects the image gallery 124 to besearched, wherein the user will search their personal gallery when thecolor histogram image module 160 is a standalone application or the userwill search a gallery on the cloud or on the web when the colorhistogram image module 160 is a part of the server 130 (S306). The userselects an approach for the search algorithm in the image selectormodule 166 (S308). The user can select a region on a gridded templateand then select a color combination from a color selection panel whichis to be searched in the selected region for all of the images in theimage gallery 124. The user can also select a specific color from asample image and the image gallery 124 can be searched for all imagesthat contain that specific color in the same region as the sample image.The user receives the cataloged image gallery based on the search in theimage gallery layout module 168 (S310).

FIG. 4 represents an approach the color histogram algorithm module 150can use to perform a search.

FIG. 4 illustrates one approach of the color histogram algorithm module150. The color histogram algorithm module 150 accesses the image gallery124 (S400). The color histogram algorithm module 150 receives the userinput search request from the color histogram catalog service daemon 154(S402). The color histogram algorithm module 150 calculates the griddedcolor histogram of the images in the image gallery 124 (S404). The colorhistogram algorithm module 150 extracts the color histogram informationfrom the images in the image gallery 124 (S406). The color histogramalgorithm module 150 locates the region on the grid and the certaincolor combination selected by the user (S408). The color histogramalgorithm module 150 averages the pixels of the selected color on theselected region (S410). The color histogram algorithm module 150analyzes the similarities for each of the images in the image gallery124 (S412). The color histogram algorithm module 150 sorts the images inthe gallery based on the similarities (S414).

FIG. 5 represents another approach the color histogram algorithm module150 can use to perform a search.

FIG. 5 illustrates another approach of the color histogram algorithmmodule 150. The color histogram algorithm module 150 accesses the imagegallery 124 (S500). The color histogram algorithm module 150 receivesthe user input search request from the color histogram catalog servicedaemon 154 (S502). The color histogram algorithm module 150 calculatesthe gridded color histogram of the images in the image gallery 124(S504). The color histogram algorithm module 150 extracts the colorhistogram information from the images in the image gallery 124 (S506).The color histogram algorithm module 150 locates the selected color froma framed image sample that was selected by the user (S508). The colorhistogram algorithm module 150 averages the pixels of the selected coloron the selected region (S510). The color histogram algorithm module 150analyzes the similarities for each of the images in the image gallery124 (S512). The color histogram algorithm module 150 sorts the images inthe gallery based on the similarities (S514).

FIG. 6 represents an example of the color histogram based image catalogservice.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of the color histogram based image catalogservice being implemented. The color histogram based image catalogmanager module 140 and the color histogram image module 160 access theimage gallery 124 (S600). The user configures all of the settings andsampling rules on their user computing device 120 through the colorhistogram image module 160 (S610). The color histogram algorithm moduledoes an analysis of the user's search (S620). The color histogramcatalog module 152 sorts the images based on the color histogramalgorithm module 150 results and the image gallery layout module 168displays the catalog for the user, via the graphical user interface 122on the user computing device 120 (S630).

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of components of the user computing device 120for invoking a user environment based on a device cover, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. In an exemplary embodiment,the user computing device 120 includes one or more processors 810, oneor more computer-readable RAMs 812, one or more computer-readable ROMs814, and one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices 818 onone or more buses 816. One or more operating systems 830, one or moreapps or programs 832, and one or more user environment definitions 834are stored on the one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices818 for execution by one or more of the processors 810 via one or moreof the RAMs 812 (which typically include cache memory). In theillustrated embodiment, each of the computer-readable tangible storagedevices 818 is a semiconductor storage device such as ROM 814, EPROM,flash memory or any other computer-readable tangible storage device thatcan store a computer program and digital information. Alternatively,each of the computer-readable tangible storage devices 818 is a magneticdisk storage device of an internal hard drive.

The user computing device 120 also includes a read/write (R/W) interface822, for example, a USB port, to read from and write to externalcomputing devices or one or more portable computer-readable tangiblestorage devices such as a CD-ROM, DVD, memory stick, magnetic disk,optical disk or semiconductor storage device. The apps and programs 832and the user environment definitions 834 can be stored on the externalcomputing devices or one or more of the portable computer-readabletangible storage devices, read via the R/W interface 822 and loaded ontothe computer-readable tangible storage device 818.

The user computing device 120 also includes a network adapter orinterface 820, such as a TCP/IP adapter card or wireless communicationadapter (such as a 4G wireless communication adapter using OFDMAtechnology). The apps and programs 832 and the user environmentdefinitions 834 can be downloaded the user computing device 120 from anexternal computer or external storage device via a network (for example,the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network, or a wirelessnetwork) and network adapter or interface 820. From the network adapteror interface 820, the apps and programs 832 and the user environmentdefinitions 834 are loaded into computer-readable tangible storagedevice 818. The network may comprise copper wires, optical fibers,wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computersand/or edge servers.

The user computing device 120 also includes a touch screen 826, a camera836, sensors 828, for example, touch screen sensors and magneticallysensitive circuits, and device drivers 824 to interface to touch screen826 for imaging, to sensors 828 for pressure sensing of alphanumericcharacter entry and user selections and for detecting magnetic flux andpolarity. The device drivers 824, R/W interface 822 and network adapteror interface 820 comprise hardware and software (stored incomputer-readable tangible storage device 818 and/or ROM 814).

It should be appreciated that FIG. 7 provides only an illustration ofone implementation and does not imply any limitations with regard to theenvironments in which different embodiments may be implemented. Manymodifications to the depicted environment may be made.

The programs described herein are identified based upon the applicationfor which they are implemented in a specific embodiment of theinvention. However, it should be appreciated that any particular programnomenclature herein is used merely for convenience, and thus theinvention should not be limited to use solely in any specificapplication identified and/or implied by such nomenclature.

Based on the foregoing, a computer system, method and program producthave been disclosed for selecting a user environment based on a devicecover. However, numerous modifications and substitutions can be madewithout deviating from the scope of the present invention. Therefore,the present invention has been disclosed by way of example and notlimitation.

FIG. 8 depicts a block diagram of components of the user computingdevice 120 and/or the server 130 of the system for cataloging imagesbased on a gridded color histogram analysis 100 of FIG. 1, in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciatedthat FIG. 8 provides only an illustration of one implementation and doesnot imply any limitations with regard to the environments in whichdifferent embodiments may be implemented. Many modifications to thedepicted environment may be made.

The user computing device 120 and/or the server 130 may include one ormore processors 902, one or more computer-readable RAMs 904, one or morecomputer-readable ROMs 906, one or more computer readable storage media908, device drivers 912, read/write drive or interface 914, networkadapter or interface 916, all interconnected over a communicationsfabric 918. The network adapter 916 communicates with a network 930.Communications fabric 918 may be implemented with any architecturedesigned for passing data and/or control information between processors(such as microprocessors, communications and network processors, etc.),system memory, peripheral devices, and any other hardware componentswithin a system.

One or more operating systems 910, and one or more application programs911, for example, color histogram based image catalog manager module 140(FIG. 1), are stored on one or more of the computer readable storagemedia 908 for execution by one or more of the processors 902 via one ormore of the respective RAMs 904 (which typically include cache memory).In the illustrated embodiment, each of the computer readable storagemedia 908 may be a magnetic disk storage device of an internal harddrive, CD-ROM, DVD, memory stick, magnetic tape, magnetic disk, opticaldisk, a semiconductor storage device such as RAM, ROM, EPROM, flashmemory or any other computer-readable tangible storage device that canstore a computer program and digital information.

The user computing device 120 and/or the server 130 may also include aR/W drive or interface 914 to read from and write to one or moreportable computer readable storage media 926. Application programs 911on the user computing device 120 and/or the server 130 may be stored onone or more of the portable computer readable storage media 926, readvia the respective R/W drive or interface 914 and loaded into therespective computer readable storage media 908.

The user computing device 120 and/or the server 130 may also include anetwork adapter or interface 916, such as a Transmission ControlProtocol (TCP)/Internet Protocol (IP) adapter card or wirelesscommunication adapter (such as a 4G wireless communication adapter usingOrthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) technology).Application programs 911 on the user computing device 120 and/or theserver 130 may be downloaded to the computing device from an externalcomputer or external storage device via a network (for example, theInternet, a local area network or other wide area network or wirelessnetwork) and network adapter or interface 916. From the network adapteror interface 916, the programs may be loaded onto computer readablestorage media 908. The network may comprise copper wires, opticalfibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gatewaycomputers and/or edge servers.

The user computing device 120 and/or the server 130 may also include adisplay screen 920, a keyboard or keypad 922, and a computer mouse ortouchpad 924. Device drivers 912 interface to display screen 920 forimaging, to keyboard or keypad 922, to computer mouse or touchpad 924,and/or to display screen 920 for pressure sensing of alphanumericcharacter entry and user selections. The device drivers 912, R/W driveor interface 914 and network adapter or interface 916 may comprisehardware and software (stored on computer readable storage media 908and/or ROM 906).

The programs described herein are identified based upon the applicationfor which they are implemented in a specific embodiment of theinvention. However, it should be appreciated that any particular programnomenclature herein is used merely for convenience, and thus theinvention should not be limited to use solely in any specificapplication identified and/or implied by such nomenclature.

The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computerprogram product at any possible technical detail level of integration.The computer program product may include a computer readable storagemedium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereonfor causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention.

The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that canretain and store instructions for use by an instruction executiondevice. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but isnot limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device,an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, asemiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of thecomputer readable storage medium includes the following: a portablecomputer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), aread-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROMor Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portablecompact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD),a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such aspunch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructionsrecorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. Acomputer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construedas being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freelypropagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagatingthrough a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulsespassing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmittedthrough a wire.

Computer readable program instructions described herein can bedownloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computerreadable storage medium or to an external computer or external storagedevice via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, awide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprisecopper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wirelesstransmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/oredge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in eachcomputing/processing device receives computer readable programinstructions from the network and forwards the computer readable programinstructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium withinthe respective computing/processing device.

Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations ofthe present invention may be assembler instructions,instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions,machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions,state-setting data, configuration data for integrated circuitry, oreither source code or object code written in any combination of one ormore programming languages, including an object oriented programminglanguage such as Smalltalk, C++, or the like, and procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The computer readable program instructions may executeentirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including,for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gatearrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute thecomputer readable program instructions by utilizing state information ofthe computer readable program instructions to personalize the electroniccircuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer readable program instructions.

These computer readable program instructions may be provided to aprocessor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, orother programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, suchthat the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computeror other programmable data processing apparatus, create means forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructionsmay also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can directa computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or otherdevices to function in a particular manner, such that the computerreadable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises anarticle of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects ofthe function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram blockor blocks.

The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto acomputer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other deviceto cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer,other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computerimplemented process, such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement thefunctions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block orblocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the blocks may occur out of theorder noted in the Figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardwareand computer instructions.

It is to be understood that although this disclosure includes a detaileddescription on cloud computing, implementation of the teachings recitedherein are not limited to a cloud computing environment. Rather,embodiments of the present invention are capable of being implemented inconjunction with any other type of computing environment now known orlater developed.

Cloud computing is a model of service delivery for enabling convenient,on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computingresources (e.g., networks, network bandwidth, servers, processing,memory, storage, applications, virtual machines, and services) that canbe rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort orinteraction with a provider of the service. This cloud model may includeat least five characteristics, at least three service models, and atleast four deployment models.

Characteristics are as follows:

On-demand self-service: a cloud consumer can unilaterally provisioncomputing capabilities, such as server time and network storage, asneeded automatically without requiring human interaction with theservice's provider.

Broad network access: capabilities are available over a network andaccessed through standard mechanisms that promote use by heterogeneousthin or thick client platforms (e.g., mobile phones, laptops, and PDAs).

Resource pooling: the provider's computing resources are pooled to servemultiple consumers using a multi-tenant model, with different physicaland virtual resources dynamically assigned and reassigned according todemand. There is a sense of location independence in that the consumergenerally has no control or knowledge over the exact location of theprovided resources but may be able to specify location at a higher levelof abstraction (e.g., country, state, or datacenter).

Rapid elasticity: capabilities can be rapidly and elasticallyprovisioned, in some cases automatically, to quickly scale out andrapidly released to quickly scale in. To the consumer, the capabilitiesavailable for provisioning often appear to be unlimited and can bepurchased in any quantity at any time.

Measured service: cloud systems automatically control and optimizeresource use by leveraging a metering capability at some level ofabstraction appropriate to the type of service (e.g., storage,processing, bandwidth, and active user accounts). Resource usage can bemonitored, controlled, and reported, providing transparency for both theprovider and consumer of the utilized service.

Service Models are as follows:

Software as a Service (SaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto use the provider's applications running on a cloud infrastructure.The applications are accessible from various client devices through athin client interface such as a web browser (e.g., web-based e-mail).The consumer does not manage or control the underlying cloudinfrastructure including network, servers, operating systems, storage,or even individual application capabilities, with the possible exceptionof limited user-specific application configuration settings.

Platform as a Service (PaaS): the capability provided to the consumer isto deploy onto the cloud infrastructure consumer-created or acquiredapplications created using programming languages and tools supported bythe provider. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure including networks, servers, operating systems, orstorage, but has control over the deployed applications and possiblyapplication hosting environment configurations.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): the capability provided to theconsumer is to provision processing, storage, networks, and otherfundamental computing resources where the consumer is able to deploy andrun arbitrary software, which can include operating systems andapplications. The consumer does not manage or control the underlyingcloud infrastructure but has control over operating systems, storage,deployed applications, and possibly limited control of select networkingcomponents (e.g., host firewalls).

Deployment Models are as follows:

Private cloud: the cloud infrastructure is operated solely for anorganization. It may be managed by the organization or a third party andmay exist on-premises or off-premises.

Community cloud: the cloud infrastructure is shared by severalorganizations and supports a specific community that has shared concerns(e.g., mission, security requirements, policy, and complianceconsiderations). It may be managed by the organizations or a third partyand may exist on-premises or off-premises.

Public cloud: the cloud infrastructure is made available to the generalpublic or a large industry group and is owned by an organization sellingcloud services.

Hybrid cloud: the cloud infrastructure is a composition of two or moreclouds (private, community, or public) that remain unique entities butare bound together by standardized or proprietary technology thatenables data and application portability (e.g., cloud bursting forload-balancing between clouds).

A cloud computing environment is service oriented with a focus onstatelessness, low coupling, modularity, and semantic interoperability.At the heart of cloud computing is an infrastructure that includes anetwork of interconnected nodes.

Referring now to FIG. 9, illustrative cloud computing environment 50 isdepicted. As shown, cloud computing environment 50 includes one or morecloud computing nodes 10 with which local computing devices used bycloud consumers, such as, for example, personal digital assistant (PDA)or cellular telephone 54A, desktop computer 54B, laptop computer 54C,and/or automobile computer system 54N may communicate. Nodes 10 maycommunicate with one another. They may be grouped (not shown) physicallyor virtually, in one or more networks, such as Private, Community,Public, or Hybrid clouds as described hereinabove, or a combinationthereof. This allows cloud computing environment 50 to offerinfrastructure, platforms and/or software as services for which a cloudconsumer does not need to maintain resources on a local computingdevice. It is understood that the types of computing devices 54A-N shownin FIG. 9 are intended to be illustrative only and that computing nodes10 and cloud computing environment 50 can communicate with any type ofcomputerized device over any type of network and/or network addressableconnection (e.g., using a web browser).

Referring now to FIG. 10, a set of functional abstraction layersprovided by cloud computing environment 50 (FIG. 9) is shown. It shouldbe understood in advance that the components, layers, and functionsshown in FIG. 10 are intended to be illustrative only and embodiments ofthe invention are not limited thereto. As depicted, the following layersand corresponding functions are provided:

Hardware and software layer 60 includes hardware and softwarecomponents. Examples of hardware components include: mainframes 61; RISC(Reduced Instruction Set Computer) architecture based servers 62;servers 63; blade servers 64; storage devices 65; and networks andnetworking components 66. In some embodiments, software componentsinclude network application server software 67 and database software 68.

Virtualization layer 70 provides an abstraction layer from which thefollowing examples of virtual entities may be provided: virtual servers71; virtual storage 72; virtual networks 73, including virtual privatenetworks; virtual applications and operating systems 74; and virtualclients 75.

In one example, management layer 80 may provide the functions describedbelow. Resource provisioning 81 provides dynamic procurement ofcomputing resources and other resources that are utilized to performtasks within the cloud computing environment. Metering and Pricing 82provide cost tracking as resources are utilized within the cloudcomputing environment, and billing or invoicing for consumption of theseresources. In one example, these resources may include applicationsoftware licenses. Security provides identity verification for cloudconsumers and tasks, as well as protection for data and other resources.User portal 83 provides access to the cloud computing environment forconsumers and system administrators. Service level management 84provides cloud computing resource allocation and management such thatrequired service levels are met. Service Level Agreement (SLA) planningand fulfillment 85 provide pre-arrangement for, and procurement of,cloud computing resources for which a future requirement is anticipatedin accordance with an SLA.

Workloads layer 90 provides examples of functionality for which thecloud computing environment may be utilized. Examples of workloads andfunctions which may be provided from this layer include: mapping andnavigation 91; software development and lifecycle management 92; virtualclassroom education delivery 93; data analytics processing 94;transaction processing 95; and the color histogram based image catalogmanager module 96.

Based on the foregoing, a computer system, method, and computer programproduct have been disclosed. However, numerous modifications andsubstitutions can be made without deviating from the scope of thepresent invention. Therefore, the present invention has been disclosedby way of example and not limitation.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present inventionhave been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intendedto be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the describedembodiments. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain theprinciples of the one or more embodiment, the practical application ortechnical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or toenable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: accessing, by a computer, animage gallery specified by a user; receiving, by the computer, a requestto search the image gallery specified by the user; performing, by thecomputer, a search of the image gallery, wherein the search is using acolor based histogram algorithm based on a user input; cataloging, bythe computer, a plurality of images from the search of the image galleryusing the gridded color histogram algorithm; and transmitting, by thecomputer, a cataloged and sorted image gallery to the user computingdevice to be displayed.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprises:receiving, by the computer, a user profile, wherein the user profilecontains a plurality of personal characteristics and a plurality ofprofile settings; and receiving, by the computer, at least one samplingrule from the user, wherein the at least one sampling rule can be chosenfrom a plurality of predetermined sampling rules or be made by the user.3. The method of claim 2, wherein the search is using a color basedhistogram algorithm based on a user input, is further based on the userprofile and the at least one sampling rule from the user to customizethe request to search the image gallery.
 4. The method of claim 1,further comprises: extracting, by the computer, a plurality of colorhistogram information based on a gridded pattern from a plurality ofimages in the image gallery specified by the user, wherein the pluralityof color histogram information is used in the request to search theimage gallery.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user input for thecolor based histogram search further comprises: receiving, by thecomputer, the user input, a selected region on a gridded template and aselected color combination to search the image gallery specified by theuser; or receiving, by the computer, the user input, a selected color ona region of a sample image to search the image gallery specified by theuser.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprises: averaging, by thecomputer, at least one pixel of the selected color combination on theselected region; or averaging, by the computer, at least one pixel ofthe selected color on the region of the sample image.
 7. The method ofclaim 6, further comprises: analyzing, by the computer, the imagegallery for at least one similar image, wherein the at least one similarimage is similar in the selected color combination on the selectedregion; or analyzing, by the computer, the image gallery for at leastone similar image, wherein the at least one similar image is similar inthe selected color on the region of the sample image.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, further comprises: sorting, by the computer, the image gallerybased on a plurality of results from analyzing the image gallery,wherein the sorted image gallery is sorted by similarity among theimages.
 9. The method of claim 8, further comprises: cataloging, by thecomputer, the sorted image gallery, wherein the cataloged and sortedimage gallery begins with a most similar image.
 10. A computer programproduct comprising: one or more non-transitory computer-readable storagemedia and program instructions stored on the one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable storage media, the program instructions comprising:accessing an image gallery specified by a user; receiving a request tosearch the image gallery specified by the user; performing a search ofthe image gallery, wherein the search is using a color based histogramalgorithm based on a user input; cataloging a plurality of images fromthe search of the image gallery using the gridded color histogramalgorithm; and transmitting a cataloged and sorted image gallery to theuser computing device to be displayed.
 11. The non-transitory computerprogram product of claim 10, further comprises: extracting a pluralityof color histogram information based on a gridded pattern from aplurality of images in the image gallery specified by the user, whereinthe plurality of color histogram information is used in the request tosearch the image gallery.
 12. The non-transitory computer programproduct of claim 10, further comprises: receiving the user input, aselected region on a gridded template and a selected color combinationto search the image gallery specified by the user; or receiving the userinput, a selected color on a region of a sample image to search theimage gallery specified by the user.
 13. The non-transitory computerprogram product of claim 12, further comprises: averaging at least onepixel of the selected color combination on the selected region; oraveraging at least one pixel of the selected color on the region of thesample image.
 14. The non-transitory computer program product of claim13, further comprises: analyzing the image gallery for at least onesimilar image, wherein the at least one similar image is similar in theselected color combination on the selected region; or analyzing theimage gallery for at least one similar image, wherein the at least onesimilar image is similar in the selected color on the region of thesample image.
 15. The non-transitory computer program product of claim14, further comprises: sorting the image gallery based on a plurality ofresults from analyzing the image gallery, wherein the sorted imagegallery is sorted by similarity among the images.
 16. A computer systemcomprising: one or more computer processors, one or morecomputer-readable storage media, and program instructions stored on oneor more of the computer-readable storage media for execution by at leastone of the one or more processors, the program instructions comprising:accessing an image gallery specified by a user; receiving a request tosearch the image gallery specified by the user; performing a search ofthe image gallery, wherein the search is using a color based histogramalgorithm based on a user input; cataloging a plurality of images fromthe search of the image gallery using the gridded color histogramalgorithm; and transmitting a cataloged and sorted image gallery to theuser computing device to be displayed.
 17. The computer system of claim16, further comprises: receiving the user input, a selected region on agridded template and a selected color combination to search the imagegallery specified by the user; or receiving the user input, a selectedcolor on a region of a sample image to search the image galleryspecified by the user.
 18. The computer system of claim 17, furthercomprises: averaging at least one pixel of the selected colorcombination on the selected region; or averaging at least one pixel ofthe selected color on the region of the sample image.
 19. The computersystem of claim 18, further comprises: analyzing the image gallery forat least one similar image, wherein the at least one similar image issimilar in the selected color combination on the selected region; oranalyzing the image gallery for at least one similar image, wherein theat least one similar image is similar in the selected color on theregion of the sample image.
 20. The computer system of claim 19, furthercomprises: sorting the image gallery based on a plurality of resultsfrom analyzing the image gallery, wherein the sorted image gallery issorted by similarity among the images.